Rotary friction welding

Rotary friction welding (RFW) one of the methods of friction welding, the classic way of which uses the work of friction to create a not separable weld. Typically one welded element is rotated relative to the other and to the forge (pressed down by axial force). The heating of the material is caused by friction work and creates a permanent connection. In this method, the materials to be welded can be the same, dissimilar, or composite and non-metallic materials. The friction welding methods of are often considered as solid-state welding.

History

Historical photo of double spindle machine.

Friction welding description in the newspaper Техника - молодёжи 1958-02, страница 32 from 1958 year .However, the newspaper is about technical science fiction.

Some applications and patents connected with friction welding date back to the turn of the 20th century, and rotary friction welding is the oldest of these methods. W. Richter patented the method of the linear friction welding (LFW) process in 1924 in England and 1929 in the Weimar Republic; however, the description of the process was vague and H. Klopstock patented the same process in the Soviet Union in 1924. But the first description and experiments related to rotary friction welding took place in the Soviet Union in 1956, by a machinist named A. J. Chdikov (А. И. Чудиков), who after researching a myriad of scientific studies, suggested the use of this welding method as a commercial process. At first he discovered the method by accident in the Elbrussky mine where he worked: Chdikov did not pay enough attention to lubricating the lathe chuck's insides and then learned he had welded the workpiece to the lathe. He wondered if this accident could be used for joining and came to conclusion that it was necessary to work at high rotation speeds (as of 2023 about 1000 revolutions per second), immediately brake and press down welded components. He decided to write a letter to the Ministry of Metallurgy and received the answer that this welding was inappropriate, but short notes about the method were published in the newspapers of the Union, arousing interest from Yu. Ya. Terentyeva who was manager of the national Scientific Research Institute of Electrical Welding Equipment, and with time Chdikov's method was disseminated. The process was introduced to the United States in 1960. The American companies Caterpillar Tractor Company (Caterpillar - CAT), Rockwell International, and American Manufacturing Foundry all developed machines for this process. Patents were also issued throughout Europe and the former Soviet Union. The first studies of friction welding in England were carried out by the Welding Institute in 1961. The US through Caterpillar Tractor Company and MTI developed an inertia process in 1962. Europe through KUKA AG and Thompson launched rotary friction welding for industrial applications in 1966, developed a direct-drive process and in 1974 built the rRS6 double spindle machine for heavy truck axles.

newIn 1997, an international patent application was filed, entitled "Method of Friction Welding Tubular Members". Inventor A. Graham demonstrated, on welding pipes with a diameter of 152.4 mm, a method that uses radial friction welding with an intermediate ring for connecting long pipes, at long last succeeding after some attempts occurred in 1975, and after scientists in Leningrad theorized on the idea in newspapers. Another method was invented and experimentally proven at The Welding Institute (TWI) in the UK and patented in 1991, called the friction stir welding (FSW) process. In 2008 KUKA AG developed the SRS 1000 rotary friction welding machine with a forging force of 1000 tons. An improved modification is Low Force Friction Welding, a hybrid technology developed by EWI and Manufacturing Technology Inc. (MTI). The process can apply to both linear and rotary friction welding. As of 2020 KUKA has been operating in 44 countries and has built more than 1200 systems, including for subcontract facilities;

Some of KUKA friction welding machines.

However, there are more companies in the world with experience; for example, The Welding Institute TWI has more than 50 years of expertise and insight inherent to process development. As of 2023, with the help of more and more companies, friction welding has become popular worldwide with various materials both in scientific studies and industrial applications.

FWT 30 EWI welder [2]

Applications

Rotary friction welding is widely implemented across the manufacturing sector and has been used for numerous applications, including:

• Parts in gas turbine such as: turbine shafts, turbine discs, compressor drums,
• Automotive parts including steel truck axles and casings, overhead valve engine, motor hollow pistons, passenger car wheel rims, converter for passenger car automatic gears, drive shafts, yoke shaft
• Turbine for aircraft engine,
• Monel to steel marine fittings,
• Piston rods,
• Copper - aluminium electrical connections,
• Heat exchangers,
• Cutting tools for example for lengthening drill bits,
• Drill pipes,
• Reactor pressure vassels nozzles,
• Tubular transition joints combining dissimilar metals (Aluminium - Titanium and Aluminium - Stainless steel),
• Potential for medical applications,
• For learning students at technical universities.

Connections geometry

Basic cross sections of rotary friction welding connections.

Rotary Friction Welding can join a wide range of part geometries Typically: Tube to Tube, Tube to Plate, Tube to Bar, Tube to Disk, Bar to Bar, Bar to Plate and in addition, to this a rotating ring is used to connect long components.

Example of modification standard rotary friction welding from research that may be applicable for long components.

Geometry of the component surface not is not always flat for example it can be conical surface and not only.

Types of materials to be welded

Rotary friction welding enables to weld various materials.

Variety welded metal materials photo.

Metallic materials of the same name or dissimilar either composite, superalloys and non-metallic e.g. thermoplastic polymers can be welded and even welding of wood is investigated, however welding a wood is not a good idea. Weldability tables of metallic alloy can be found on the Internet and in books.

Example of Rotary friction welding weldability table. This is the basic table because the currently known list of materials is much larger and the name alloy systems are classified by a number system (ANSI) or by names indicating their main alloying constituents (DIN and ISO).

Sometimes an interlayer is used to connect non-compatible materials.

RFW friction welding components interlayer (indirect material).

Rotary friction welding for plastics

Main articles: Spin welding of polymers and Vibration welding of thermoplastics

Friction welding is also used to join thermoplastic components.

Division due to drive motor

In direct-drive friction welding (also called continuous drive friction welding) the drive motor and chuck are connected. The drive motor is continually driving the chuck during the heating stages. Usually, a clutch is used to disconnect the drive motor from the chuck, and a brake is then used to stop the chuck.

Example of friction welding with flywheel.

In inertia friction welding the drive motor is disengaged, and the workpieces are forced together by a friction welding force. The kinetic energy stored in the rotating flywheel is dissipated as heat at the weld interface as the flywheel speed decreases. Before welding, one of the workpieces is attached to the rotary chuck along with a flywheel of a given weight. The piece is then spun up to a high rate of rotation to store the required energy in the flywheel. Once spinning at the proper speed, the motor is removed and the pieces forced together under pressure. The force is kept on the pieces after the spinning stops to allow the weld to "set".

Stages of process

Steps of typical rotary friction welding.

• Step 1 and 2, friction stage: one of the component is set in rotation, and then pressed to the other stationary one in axial of rotation,
• Step 3, braking stage: the rotating component is stopped in braking time,
• Step 4, upsetting stage: the welded elements are still forging by forge pressure (pressed down),
• Step 5: in standard RFW welding (standard parameters), a flash will be created. Outside flash can be cut off on the welder.

Exemplary stages of typical process RFW welding on the chart, but there are exist modifications and then time of stages do not have look like this.

However, referring to the stages chart:

• modifications of the process exist,

  

  Chart comparison in several friction welding methods.An overview of the charts can be found on the MTI website.

• may depend on the version of the process: direct-drive, inertia friction welding, hybrid welding,
• there are many versions of welding machines,
• many materials can are welded with not the same properties, with various geometries,
• the real life process does not have to match to the ideal settings on the welding machine.

RFW Friction work on cylindrical rods workpieces

Friction work create weld and can believe that is calculated for cylindrical workpieces from math:

Work:

(1) $W=M\times \alpha$

Moment of force M general formula:

(2) $M=r\times F$

The force F will be the frictional force T (F=T) so substituting for the formula (2):

(3) $M=r\times T$

The friction force T will be the pressure F times by the friction coefficient μ:

(4) $T=\mu \times F$

So moment of force M:

(5) $M=r\times \mu \times F$

The alpha angle that each point will move with the axis of rotating cylindrical workpieces will be:

(6) $\alpha =2\pi \times n\times t$

So friction work:

(7) $W=n\times \pi \times r\times F\times \mu \times t$ ^{[verification needed]}

For variable value μ over friction time:

(8) $W=n\times \pi \times r\times F\times \int _{0}^{t}f(\mu )\,dt$

This requires verification but from equation it appears that turnover and force (or pressure no surface $F=p({\text{pressure}})*A({\text{area}})$) is linear to friction work (W) so for example if pressure increase 2 times then friction work also increase 2 times, if turnover increase 2 times then friction work also increase 2 times and referring to rules conservation of energy this can heat 2 times more the material to the same temperature or the temperature may increase 2 times. However pressure has the same effect over the entire surface but rotation have more impact away from the axis of rotation because it is a rotary motion. Referring to thermal conductivity the friction time affects to the flash size when shorter time was used then friction work is more concentrated in a smaller area.

or variable values μ, n, F over friction time:

(9) $W=\pi \times r\times \int _{0}^{t}f(\mu )f(n)f(F)\,dt$

• t [s]- time of friction (when piece rotary),
• μ - coefficient of friction,
• F [N]- pressure force,
• r [m]- radius of workpiece,
• n [1/s] - turnover per second,
• W [J] - friction work.

Simplified welding process on the picture.

Therefore, the calculation in this way is not reliable in real is complicated. An example article considering the variable depends on the temperature coefficient of friction steel - aluminum Al60611 - Alumina is described by authors from Malaysia in for example this paper "Evaluation of Properties and FEM Model of the Friction Welded Mild Steel-Al6061-Alumina" and based on this position someone created no step by step but whatever an instructional simulation video in abaqus software and in this paper is possible to find the selection of the mesh type in the simulation described by the authors and there are some instructions such as use the Johnson-Cook material model choice, and not only, there is dissipation coefficient value, friction welding condition, the article included too the physical formulas related to rotary friction welding described by the authors such as: heat transfer equation and convection in rods, equations related to deformation processes. Article included information on the parameters of authors research, but it is not a step by step and simple instruction such as also the video and good add that it is not the only one position in literature. The conclusion include information that: "Even though the FE model proposed in this study cannot replace a more accurate analysis, it does provide guidance in weld parameter development and enhances understanding of the friction welding process, thus reducing costly and time consuming experimental approaches."

The coefficient of friction changes with temperature and there are a number of factors internal friction (viscosity - e.g. Dynamic viscosity according to Carreau's fluid law), forge, properties of the material during welding are variable, also there is plastic deformation.

Carreau's fluid law:

Generalized Newtonian fluid where viscosity, $\mu _{\operatorname {eff} }$, depends upon the shear rate, ${\dot {\gamma }}$, by the following equation:

(10) $\mu _{\operatorname {eff} }({\dot {\gamma }})=\mu _{\operatorname {\inf } }+(\mu _{0}-\mu _{\operatorname {\inf } })\left(1+\left(\lambda {\dot {\gamma }}\right)^{2}\right)^{\frac {n-1}{2}}$

Where:

• $\mu _{0}$, $\mu _{\operatorname {\inf } }$, $\lambda$ and $n$ are material coefficients.
• $\mu _{0}$ = viscosity at zero shear rate (Pa.s)
• $\mu _{\operatorname {\inf } }$ = viscosity at infinite shear rate (Pa.s)
• $\lambda$ = relaxation time (s)
• $n$ = power index

Modelling of the frictional heat generated within the RFW process can be realized as a function of conducted frictional work and its dissipation coefficient, incremental frictional work of a node 𝑖 on the contacting surface can be described as a function of its axial distance from the rotation centre, current frictional shear stress, rotational speed and incremental time. The dissipation coefficient 𝛽_FR is often set to 0.9 meaning that 90% of frictional work is dissipated into heat.

(11) 𝑑𝑞_FR(𝑖) = 𝛽_FR ∙ 𝑑𝑊_FR(𝑖) = 𝛽_FR ∙ 𝜏𝑅(𝑖) ∙ 𝜔 ∙ 𝑟𝑖 ∙ 𝑑𝑡 on contacting surface of node 𝑖

• 𝛽_FR - dissipation coefficient,
• 𝑊_FR - frictional work,
• 𝑟𝑖 - distance from the rotation centre,
• dt - time increment,
• 𝜏𝑅(𝑖) - current frictional shear stress,
• 𝜔 - rotational speed.

Friction work can also calculate from power of used for welding and friction time (will not be greater than the friction time multiply to the power of the welder - engine of the welder) referring to rules conservation of energy. This calculation looks the simplest.

(12) E = Pxt or for not constant power $E=\int _{0}^{t}f(P)\,dt$

• E - energy,
• P - power,
• t - power runtime.

However, in this case, energy can be also stored in the flywheel if is used depending on the welder construction.

General flywheel energy formula:

(13) $E_{k}={\frac {1}{2}}I\omega ^{2}$

where:

• $E_{k}$ is the stored kinetic energy,
• ω is the angular velocity, and
• $I$ is the moment of inertia of the flywheel about its axis of symmetry.

Sample calculations not by computer simulation also exist in the literature for example related to power input and temperature distribution can be found in the script from 1974:

K. K. Wang and Wen Lin from Cornell University in "Flywheel friction welding research" manually calculates welding process and even at this time the weld structure was analysed.

However, generally: The calculations can be complicated.

Weld Zone Description

Weld photo gallery

Rotary Friction welding weld photo. Weld without clearly formed flash. No flash but something like the upset is visible on the right component (torsion line is not visible). The scale of the calliper is in mm. However, there's the problem:In this case, the very short friction time was used so real-time and direct temperature measurement of the weld center can be problematic, moreover welding in a short time causes risks of imperfections such as weld discontinuities.	Welded rods of inconel 600 and inconel 718 superalloy after destructive tensile test.	Photo of friction welded API 5L X46 pipeline with diameter of 220 mm and wall thickness of 8 mm. The typically flash is visible on the image. However, there's the problem:Internal significant flash is visible here and can be difficult to remove in pipeline.
Typical Rotary Friction Welding joint. Dissimilar materials: stainless and copper with 24  mm  diameter  and  75mm  length are welded.	Friction welded rods of aluminum AA1050 and AISI 304 stainless steel with diameter of 14.8 mm. Rods before and after welding prepared for tensile test. The AISI 304 stainless steel has higher strength than the aluminum alloy. Hence, the formation of flashes was restricted to AA1050 aluminum only.	Rods Aluminium AA1050 and AISI 304 Stainless steel afret tensile test. On this photo rupture occurring on aluminium site away from the bonding interface.
Tungsten - steel weld. Hoverer there is a problem: Some materials can be problematical to weld, those with a high melting point and differences in physical properties such as molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten. The photo shows a significant difference with melting between tungsten and steel. There are some methods to solve the problem such as preheating material with a high melting point to proper temperature.

Heat and mechanical affected zones

Friction work is converted into rise of temperature in the welding zone area, and as a result of this the weld structure is changed. In typical rotary friction welding process rise of temperature at the beginning of process should be more extensively away from the axis of rotation because points away axis have greater linear velocity and in time of weld the temperature disperses according to thermal conductivity welded parts.

Picture shows weld zones in friction welding.

"Technically the WCZ and the TMAZ are both "thermo-mechanically affected zones" but due to the vastly different microstructures they possess they are often considered separately. The WCZ experiences significant dynamic recrystallisation (DRX), the TMAZ does not. The material in HAZ is not deformed mechanically but is affected by the heat. The region from one TMAZ/HAZ boundary to the other is often referred to as the "TMAZ thickness" or the plastically affected zone (PAZ). For the remainder of this article this region will be referred to as the PAZ."

Zones:

• WCZ– weld center zone,
• HAZ – heat affected zone,
• TMAZ – Thermo-Mechanically Affected Zone,
• BM – base material, parent material,
• Flash.

Furthermore, in the literature, there is also a subdivided according to the type of grain.

Similar terms exist in welding.

During typical welding initially, the outer region heats up more, due to the higher linear velocity.

Components heating over time.

Next, the heat spreads, and the material is pushed outside, thus creating an outside flash which can be cut off on the welding machine.

Flash cut off on rotary friction welder.

Heat flow, heat flux in rods

Main articles: Heat_equation § Heat_flow_in_a_uniform_rod, and Heat transfer

It can create a hypothesis that heat flows in welding time like in a cylindrical rod it makes possible to suppose to calculate a temperature in individual places and times from the knowing of the issues of heat flow and heat flux in rods for example, temperature can be read by using thermocouples and compare with computer simulation.

• 
  Heat flow in Rod, and variant 1 placement of thermocouple.
• 
  Heat flow in Rod, and variant 2 placement of thermocouples.

Weld measuring system

To provide knowledge about the process, monitoring systems are often used and this are carried out in several ways which affects the accuracy and the list of measured parameters.

The computer aided design image point out the location of the sensors and on the photo is shown the real view of the Inertia Friction Welding (IFW) machine with mounted sensors.There is situated Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDTs), triaxial accelerometer, encoder, laser sensors, strain sensors.

The list of measured and calculated parameters can looks like this:

• axial force and pressure,
• angular - rotation speed,
• spindle centre,
• velocity,
• vibration,
• length (burn off rate),
• temperature.

Temperature measuring systems

Examples of weld measurements. In the literature, can be found measurements of the thermal weld area with thermocouples and not only the non-contact thermographic method is also used.

Just an example for measuring by the contact thermocouple methods.

However, it also depends on the specific case for a very small area of the weld and HAZ there are cans by difficulties in thermal measuring in real time it can be calculated later after friction time there is heat flow.

This is another example of a measurement but can be referenced. The thermocouple response can be in a dozen millisecond, but thermocouple tip is all in hot tin additionally, this thermocouple was without a cover for shortened response time yet the cover protects the thermocouple. This example is not from friction welding but from measuring the temperature of hot tin.In this example Andurino open source hardware + Analog to digital (ADC) thermocouple converter MAX31855K was used.

Sample source code for temperature measurement made on arduino, this is far away from the topic, however there are missing full open friction welding codes. Exists the free open source software for simulation (List of finite element software) but there is no welding open codes and detailed instructions to this software.

Example in Arduino IDE for temperature measurement with MAX31855. (click right show button to view)

Example in Arduino IDE for temperature measurement with MAX31855. However, the DAQ thermocouple measurement system may have a chip from any manufacturer.

Specification MAX31855K

It is student work with Max31855K and arduino although the chip is not ideal soldered it was soldered at home not in laboratory, it could have been done more nicely, but the goal was achieved, the temperature could be measured. Currently there are available this chip on the board.

Example temperature measurement diagram used to for example for welding measurement simple students projects.

#include "Adafruit_MAX31855.h"

int DO = 11;
int CS = 12;
int CLK = 13;

Adafruit_MAX31855 thermocouple(CLK, CS, DO);

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
    delay(200);
}

void loop() {
    Serial.println(thermocouple.readCelsius());
    delay(15);
}

Research, temperature, parameters in the rotary friction welding process

Quality requirements of welded joints depend on the form of application, e.g. in the space or fly industry weld errors are not allowed. Science tries to gets good quality welds, also some people have been interested in many years in welding knowledge, so there are many scientific articles describing the methods of joining, for example Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, published in 2019 year a literature review in their paper is possible to find out list of people who are interested in friction welding, however in this list not all off people are mentioned for example there is not mentioned about mti youtube channel also there are not written about low force friction welding additionally, the list of people may change over time.

They are performed weld tests which give knowledge about mechanical properties of material in welded zone e.g. hardness tests, and tensile tests are performed. Based on the tensile tests the stretch curve are created which can give directly knowledge about ultimate tensile strength, breaking strength, maximum elongation and reduction in area and from these measurements the Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, yield strength, and strain-hardening characteristics is created.

Where, the articles often contain only data related to tensile tests such as:

• Yield Strength in MPa
• Ultimate Tensile Strength in MPa
• Elongation in % percentage

Where the units of SI are: K, kg, N, m, s and then Pa and this knowledge about this is needed for introducing data, material properties and not do errors in simulation programs.

Info about material units for simulation. (click right show button to view)

The units are dependent on the unit system selected. For example, SI unit system:

• Dimensions - m
• Mass Density in kg/m³
• Young's modulus - Pa
• Poissons’s ratio - empty
• Thermal conductivity - W/m*K
• Specific heat - J/Kg*K
• Pressure - Pa

• 
  Unit system
• 
  Ansys sample Print Screen 316 Stainless Steel Properties with temperature.
• 
  Ansys sample print screen Structural Steel Properties. Here Celsius, Pa, Kg, m was used for all physical formulas. However, these are only starting data because the material properties change with temperature.

Research articles also often contain information about:

• chemical composition of connected components

and inclusion process parameters is obvious such as:

• Friction Pressure (MPa)
• Friction Time (s)
• Welding Speed (rpm)
• Upset Pressure (MPa)
• Upset Time (s)

Is also possible to find descriptions in research literature about: mechanical properties, microstructure, corrosion and wear resistance, and even cytotoxicity welded material.

However, why research connect topic of cytotoxicity to welding if it is a subject not closely related (cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells). On this article can write that exist same off toxic metals and metals vapors such as polonium. It can be written than in some cases when welding at high temperatures, harmful metal vapors are released and then protection is recommended such as access to fresh air and exhaust these vapors to outside.

Vapor extractor in welder.

There are several methods to determine the quality of a weld and for example the weld microstructure is examined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

The computer finite element method (FEM) is used to predict the shape of the flash and interface, not only for rotary friction welding (RFW), but also for friction stir welding (FSW), linear friction welding (LFW), FRIEX.

Example Friction welding simulation in dedicated commercial sampro-software for Rotary Friction Welding. However, it is not free and open source program (in 2023 year). There exist also general moreover expanded software for FEM simulation, sometimes free and open-source - List of finite element software. However, there is a problem: simulation welding requiring users skills, appropriate software and knowledge, sometimes comparisons with real similar examples, it is not very easy and the files are not shared or instructions of welding contains errors.

In addition to the weld testing, the weld heat-affected zones are described. Knowledge of the maximum temperatures in the welding process make it possible to define the area structural changes. Process are analisis e.g. temperature measurements are also carried out for scientific purposes research materials, journals, by use contact thermocouples or sometimes no contact thermography methods. For example, an ultra fine grain structure of alloy or metal which is obtained by techniques such as severe plastic deformation or Powder metallurgy is desirable, and not changed by the high temperature, a large heat affected zone is unnecessary. Temperature may reduce material properties because dynamic recrystallization will occur, there may be changes in grain size and phase transformations structures of welded materials. In steel between austenite, ferrite, pearlite, bainite, cementite, martensite.

Various parameters of welding are tested. The setting of the completely different parameters can obtain different weld for example the structure changes will not be the same width. It is possible to obtain a smaller heat-affected zone (HAZ) and a plastically affected zone (PAZ). The width of the weld is smaller. The results are for example not the same in welds made for the European Space Agency with a high turnover ω = 14000 rpm or another example from Warsaw technical university 12000 rpm and no typical very short friction time only 60 milliseconds instead of using an standard parameters, in addition, in this case, ultra fine grain alloy was welded, but for this example the welded rod workpiece was only 6mm in diameter so it is small rod friction welding another close to this examples with short friction time only e.g. 40 ms also exist in literature but also for small diameter. Unfortunately, welding in very short time carries the risk of welding imperfections such as weld discontinuities.

Welding imperfections such as weld discontinuities. - Risk of welding in very short time. Moreover research articles do not always describe the risks.

Corner problem in friction welding with specific parameters time below 100 ms and conical contact surface. There is a complete weld inside but corner is not welded. In individual cases this can be initially predicted and some case is possible make the welded elements with a larger diameter and after welding turn on a lathe. Appropriate parameters, tests, are also helpful it may be also a solution before welding preheating of the front surface to the appropriate temperature. However to sum up, the photo shows the corner problem.

Some cases of welding are made only individually or only in research such as: The welds created in with specific parameters such as welding time below 100 ms, with an appropriate front surface for example (conical contact surface), with materials that are difficult to weld (tungsten to steel), these are not always serial production.

The rotations in the research literature for small diameters can be more as standard even e.g. 25000 rpm. Unfortunately the diameter of the workpiece can be a limitation to the use of high speeds of rotation.

The key points to understand is that: Fine grain of the welded metal material according to Hall-Petch relation should have better strength and for the description of one technique for obtaining this material Percy Williams Bridgman won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1946 referring to the achievements related to High Pressure Torsion (HPT),. However, by High Pressure Torsion is obtained only thin film thickness material.

Hall-Petch relation.

Stress-strain curve typical of a low carbon steel.

The research electrodeposition deposition technique of applying an intermediate interlayer. The properties of this layer are used later for welding. However, in this study, nickel interlayer thickness was of 70 $\mu$m (micrometre )and in this case only small rods of 12mm diameter were welded.

There is also research into the introduction of interlayers. Even though dissimilar material joining is often more difficult the introduction for example nickel interlayer by an experimental electrodeposition deposition technique to increase the connection quality has been investigated by the Indian Institute of Metals, however in this case nickel interlayer thickness was of 70 $\mu$m (micrometre ) and only small rods of 12mm diameter were welded. This nickel layer is only on top of the welded parts. In addition, this topic is not very related to welding but nickel layer may affect off corrosion resistance.

Some scientists describe material research. Group of known materials is large includes: Ni nickel based superalloys such as Inconel, ultra-fine grain materials such as ultra-fine grain aluminum, low carbon steel e.g. Ultra Low Carbon Bainitic Steel (ULCBS). Friction welding is used for connection many materials including superalloys for example nickel-based Inconel, scientists describe connecting various materials and on the internet is possible finding articles about this and same part of the research relates to joining superalloys materials or materials with improved properties. Nickel based superalloys exhibit excellent high temperature strength, high temperature corrosion and oxidation resistance and creep resistance. However, referring to this research good add that nickel is not the most common and cheapest material: Prices list of chemical elements.

Parameters

• Turnover: Typically turnover is selected depending on the type of material and dimensions of welded parts have different values: 400 - 1450 rpm, sometimes max 10000 rpm. Not typically, in research literature turnover is to 25000 rpm.
• Friction time: typically 1 - to several dozen seconds. Not typically, in research literature friction time can be in tens of milliseconds, however when time is very short and parameters are not typical process can require a lot of preliminary preparation and testing to the positive result.
• Forge time: Up to a few seconds.

However, the parameters will be different as elements of different sizes can be welded. For example, can be produced ranging from the smallest component with a diameter of 3 mm to turbine components with a diameter in excess of 400 mm.

By combining methods of connecting long elements perhaps future science may study the friction welding of rails for example for the high speeds railway industry and use the preheat Low force linear friction welding or modified Linear friction welding (LFW) method and vibrating insert (just like the rotating insert in FRIEX method) for do this if the machine are developed and also good add that most of attention are directed to safety of travelers, user safety should be preserved at the first place.

For example, the article:"Pipeline girth friction welding of the UNS S32205 duplex stainless steel" describes friction welding of pipeline.However, in this case is problem, on the photo is clearly visible internal flash, not recommended and difficult to remove.

Preliminary research involving similar welds and geometry has shown improved tensile strength and increased performance in the fatigue tests.

Image of the machine from research on friction welding system for pipeline steel. Unfortunately, in this case to 08.2022 only one image of the machine was shared, so is difficult to deduce reality of this image. The authors of paper wher image is, mentions that this welder is for long components with an outer diameter of 220 mm and wall thickness of 8 mm, however additional tests should be performed with regard to the risk of crack and also good add safety of users and the environment if it is used for pipeline: List of pipeline accidents

Table with sample book typical parameters of the welding process.
Materials (Symbols are standardized but dependent on the region)	Diameter [mm]	Rotation speed [RPM]	Pressure [MPa]		Friction time [s]	Burn off rate [mm]
			Friction	Forge
steel S235JR + steel S235JR	40	750	80	100	11	6–6.5
steel C55 + steel C55	40	1000	100	140	15	11.1–11.4
steel 41Cr4 + steel 41Cr4	20	1000	60	120	8.5	5–5.5
steel X20Cr13 + steel X20Cr13	20	1000	100	206	6	5.5
steel OOH18M2Nb + steel OOH18M2Nb	24	1450	90	120	225	-
steel X3CrTi17 + steel X3CrTi17	35	750	50	100	8	7–7.5
steel X6CrNiTi18 + steel X6CrNiTi18	35	750	90	200	23	6.5–7.2
Aluminium + Aluminium	40	750	30	30	9	30
copper CW004A + copper CW004A	35	1500	52	150	1	8.6–9.4
steel 100Cr6 + steel C45	22	1000	50	140	7–8	5.6
steel HHS+ C55	20	1450	140	160	8	-
steel HS18-0-1 + steel C55	20	1450	140	160	10	-
steel X6CrNiTi18-10 + steel E295	40	1000	110	145	30	-
Aluminium + steel S235JR	50	400	50	120	7	15
copper CW004A + steel S195	20	1450	25	160	5.3	12

Controversies in research

1. As of August 2022, there are no step-by-step reviewed instructions on how to simulate the temperature of welded components. There are no shared source files for programs where simulation of welding is possible. On the other hand, some of the knowledge is difficult for example in 08.2022 an article: Hamed, Maien Mohamed Osman the "Numerical simulation of friction welding processes: An arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian approach" was shared on google scholar but it is difficult to understand.
2. Problem with open article reviews or review no exist.
3. Correct use of grants, and repeating of knowledge for example the structure of a lot of articles is similar and sometimes generally only the next material is welded so there is nothing new but some of research is granted.
4. It is only friction welding, generally nothing difficult, on the other hand there are many complicated descriptions, but the practical result of this articles is missing: The expectation is to create something new, unknown so far.
5. Correct use of grants, time of articles, who is first, announcing about the desire to create something new an innovative device by the university but this is not done:
   • Poland

Rotary Friction Welder Photo from Warsaw University of Technology (photo from 2019 year).

Google scholar finds 246 articles in response to the "friction welding" phrase in 8.2022, this is only part of all available research, and for some of them financial grants are given. However, for example in 2016 The Institute of Electronic Materials Technology in Poland published t he article in Polish language about welding Al/Al2O3 Composites, after then two years later the Warsaw University of Technology publishes an article in Polish language about friction welding ultrafine grained 316L steel in 2018, although the materials was different, but the process parameters suggest that the welding machine is the same, so in this case The Institute of Electronic Materials Technology was published the data first, and summarizing in this case: in 2018 only the new material, which was steel, was welded and tested, the machine was not new but for this a grant was obtained (843 920 PLN = ~US$177476). It has not been written into the articles since the two institutes had a machine and since studies with short friction times were carried out. Students were informed about the willingness to create by the university a new innovative friction welder, but to 08.2022 there is no information about this, there are new research articles, but the device is still old (information valid in 2019 year).

Low Force Friction Welding

A improved modification of the standard friction welding is Low Force Friction Welding, hybrid technology developed by EWI and Manufacturing Technology Inc. (MTI), "uses an external energy source to raise the interface temperature of the two parts being joined, thereby reducing the process forces required to make a solid-state weld compared to traditional friction welding". The process applies to both linear and rotary friction welding.

Following the informations from the Manufacturing Technology blog and website, the technology is promising.

Low force friction advantages:

• Little or no flash,

  

  Example of flash difference: On the left in the photo is showed flash from standard welding, on the right from low force friction welding. The welded element on the right looks correct.

• Joining of components previously limited by friction welding,

For example, those with a high melting point such as refractory metals like molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten or if there is a difference in material properties.

The manufacturer also listed same advantages, which are not fully explained, this is not true for every case:

• Reduced machine footprint, but machine must have additional heating elements.
• Reduced weld cycle time, but preheating also takes time.
• Higher orientation precision,
• Part repeatability, but this may also occur in some traditional welders if welding is repeatable.

Moreover, in 2021 the number of scientific articles for example on Google Scholar about Low force friction is smaller compared to description of the standard method about friction welding where an external energy source to raise the interface temperature is not used.

Construction of the welding machine

Examples of components of the RFW welding machine created in cad, however this is a simplified example for knowledge extension, so it must contain many errors.

Depending on the construction, but a standard welding machine may include the following systems:

• Control system
• Motor or motors in e.g. direct-drive welder
• Pneumatic or hydraulic pressure system
• Handle
• Non rotating vice
• Clutch in direct-drive friction welder
• Spindle
• Flywheel in inertia friction welder
• Housing
• Measuring systems

Producers present solutions and welding machines can include:

• Measurement and control dimensional systems: Active Travel Control, burn off rate measurement,
• Automation solutions, Defined angle positioning, Component lifter, Automatic door operations, Weld data export, Ready for industrial solutions, Automatic temperature control of the headstock, Monitoring of the cooling unit, servo motor control,
• Have solutions for clean environment with no arcs, sparks, smoke or flames,
• Have ergonomic workspace, nice design,
• No special foundations or power supplies are required,
• Process control and documentation systems: All process data is documented numerically and graphically, have program management, Calculated parameters - Smart machine
• HMI touchscreen panels,
• Barcode scanner for generate database of frictioned elements,
• There are optional methods qr, barcode tagging manufactured elements for example on an additional machine such as laser barcode, or tagging if it is necessary and possible,
• Flash cut off device systems on the welder, flash removal and facing, chip conveyor,
• Completely integrated solution in the specific production workflow using state of the art 3D process simulation,

  Example of: Friction welding simulation - from Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg Future and additional modernization in welding - but it is not easy, in addition, there is a risk of errors.

• Service assistance: Remote Service, Alarm conditions,
• Have certificates,
• Vapor extractor,

• Advanced Measurement systems,

  Fully Automated Welder Cell from MTI.ogv

• Include innovative solutions: for example hybrid technology Low Force Friction Welding, and the system associated with this technology,

However, there is not one manufacturer on the market and no one welder machine model and in addition, not always the same material and diameters is welded and a good presentation, technology description, design, may or not may determine the best solutions. There are also exist advertising presentations related to welding.

Workpiece handles

The type of chuck depends on the technology used, their construction sometimes may be similar to a lathe and milling machine.

Three-jaw chuck, multi-jaws are also used.	Exemplary handle with an ER Collets (for small diameters of workpiece).	Rotary friction welding.	Example Handles for small components: diameter~(6-14)mm used in Rotary Friction Welder machine

Safety during friction welding

• Before starting the work, even if the short and basic safety regulations should be known.
• Compliance with occupational safety and health regulations
• Following the manufacturer's recommendations
• Set up the machine in a safe place: not blocking the entrance door, electric wires away from water, free movement of the users
• Recommended security systems for example: Emergency stop button, possibility of a quick stop of the machine
• Protection against touching a too hot object also it is not always visible that the object is hot - it also depends on the material being welded for example welding copper to aluminum
• Protection against lifting to massive components

Massive welding machine.

• Caution with hot and sharp things for example the hot welded components, chips if they are cut off on the welding machine

Chips -sharp edges.

• Fresh air, for example do not smoke on the production hall near the machine also in some cases vapor extractor to outside in welder

Vapors in welding and heated object.

• Covering moving components

The description of the security rules depends on the joining method and situation - access to fresh air, electrical ground, wearing protective clothing, protect the eyes is required.

However, personal protective equipment is recommended, but in some cases may be uncomfortable and in sometimes unnecessary, so protection depends on the situation.

• The human factor also influences safety.

Staff negligence:

-theft for example copper grounding, because it can be sold for scrap,

-neglect of medical examinations, performed carelessly, even paided, because it's about earning money and not staff health,

-no cleaning for example because the shift time is over,

-accidents on the way to work,

-alcohol, an employee's bad day,

-Spinal strains - e.g. several hours of quality control of manufactured components in a forced body position because for management workforce productivity, quality and earning money is more important than staff health,

-outsourcing - transferring responsibility to another company,

-neglect of management, because sometimes they want to only make money, they look at production, not to employees.

Other techniques of friction welding

• Forge welding
• Friction stir welding (FSW)
• Friction stir spot welding (FSSW)
• Linear friction welding (LFW)
• Research on friction welding of pipeline girth welds (FRIEX)
• Friction hydro pillar overlap processing (FHPPOW)
• Friction hydro pillar processing (FHHP)

Terms and definitions, name shortcuts

Welding vs joining - Definitions depend on the author. Welding in Cambridge English dictionary means: "the activity of joining metal parts together" in Collins dictionary "the activity of uniting metal or plastic by softening with heat and hammering, or by fusion", which means that welding is related to connect. Join or joining has a similar meaning that welding and can mean the same in English dictionary means "to connect or fasten things together" but joining otherwise has many meanings for example "If roads or rivers join, they meet at a particular point". Joining opposed to welding, is a general term and there are several methods available for joining metals, including riveting, soldering, adhesive, brazing, coupling, fastening, press fit. Welding is only one type of joining process.

Solid-state weld - connect below the melting point,

welder - welding machine, but also mean a person who welds metal.

weld - the place of connection where the materials are mixed.

weldability - a measure of the ease of making a weld without errors.

interlayer - an indirect component, indirect material.

To quote ISO (the International Organization for Standardization, unfortunately the all ISO text is not free and open shared) - ISO 15620:2019(en) Welding

"axial force - force in axial direction between components to be welded,

burn-off length - loss of length during the friction phase,

burn-off rate - rate of shortening of the components during the friction welding process,

component - single item before welding,

component induced braking - reduction in rotational speed resulting from friction between the interfaces,

external braking - braking located externally reducing the rotational speed,

faying surface - surface of one component that is to be in contact with a surface of another component to form a joint,

forge force - force applied normal to the faying surfaces at the time when relative movement between the components is ceasing or has ceased,

forge burn-off length - amount by which the overall length of the components is reduced during the application of the forge force,

forge phase - interval time in the friction welding cycle between the start and finish of application of the forge force,

forge pressure - pressure (force per unit area) on the faying surfaces resulting from the axial forge force,

forge time - time for which the forge force is applied to the components,

friction force - force applied perpendicularly to the faying surfaces during the time that there is relative movement between the components,

friction phase - interval time in the friction welding cycle in which the heat necessary for making a weld is generated by relative motion and the friction forces between the components i.e. from contact of components to the start of deceleration,

friction pressure - pressure (force per unit area) on the faying surfaces resulting from the axial friction force,

friction time - time during which relative movement between the components takes place at rotational speed and under application of the friction forces,

interface - contact area developed between the faying surfaces after completion of the welding operation,

rotational speed - number of revolutions per minute of rotating component,

stick-out - distance a component sticks out from the fixture, or chuck in the direction of the mating component,

deceleration phase - interval in the friction welding cycle in which the relative motion of the components is decelerated to zero,

deceleration time - time required by the moving component to decelerate from friction speed to zero speed,

total length loss (upset) - loss of length that occurs as a result of friction welding, i.e. the sum of the burn-off length and the forge burn-off length,

total weld time - time elapsed between component contact and end of forging phase,

welding cycle - succession of operations carried out by the machine to make a weldment and return to the initial position, excluding component - handling operations,

weldment - two or more components joined by welding."

And more than that:

• RFW - Rotary friction welding,
• LFW - Linear friction welding,
• FSSW - Friction stir spot welding,
• FRIEX - Research on friction welding of pipeline girth welds,
• FHPPOW - Friction hydro pillar overlap processing,
• FHHP - Friction hydro pillar processing,
• LFFW - Low Force Friction Welding,
• FSW - Friction stir welding,
• BM - Base material,
• HAZ - Heat affected zone,
• PAZ - Plastically affected zone,
• DRX - Dynamic recrystallization,
• TMAZ - Thermo-Mechanically Affected Zone,
• UFG - Ultra fine grain,
• SPD - Serve plastic deformation,
• HPT - High Pressure Torsion,
• FEM - Finite element method,
• SEM - Scanning electron microscopy,
• ADC - Analog to digital converter.

See also

• Welding
• Friction
• Friction welding
• Friction stir welding
• Temperature
• Heat-affected zone
• Dynamic recrystallization
• Grain boundary strengthening
• Severe plastic deformation

Curiosities

• Frictional welding (μFSW) was also performed using a CNC machine. which does not mean that it is safe and recommended for the milling machine.
• Sometimes it is possible to perform welding on a lathe.

• Scientists even describe measurements of acoustic emissions during joining.

External links

• Rotary Friction Welding at google scholar - scientific search engine also to many articles about rotary friction welding.
• Rotary Friction Welding at TWI and search-results at TWI